NRD in Hartington votes today on new well construction rules

The Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District, based in Hartington, is holding a public hearing this afternoon on new proposed rules on well construction and impacts to aquifers.

NRD Manager Tom Moser says they saw a big jump in the number of irrigation wells after the drought in 2012.

“We’ve been looking at this development of irrigation wells in the area and the directors have decided it was time we develop a well permit program,” Moser says. “This will be for new well construction. We’ll require people to go through a well permit process with the NRD before they drill the well.”

Moser says they also have some proposed rules about impacts to aquifers.

“We’ll also develop some areas where we have concerns on aquifer situations,” he says. “We’ll be looking at those areas to see if there’s enough competition to use where we need to step in with regulations in the future on new well construction.”

Moser says they’ve already had several public meetings on the new rules and will now take input before they make those rules final.

“We’ll look at the comments that are made and make any adjustments that we think are appropriate and then the board will take final action to approve the changes in our rules and regulations,” Moser says. “We look for an effective date possibly of July or August right now.”

The hearing will be at the meeting room at Tootie’s restaurant in Hartington at 1:30 PM.